Floods cause A9 highway closure

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 December 2002, 17:14 GMT]Torrential rain continued Wednesday in northeast province mainly Killinochchi, Vavuniya, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara districts bringing transport through A9 high way to and from Jaffna came to a standstill Wednesday, sources said. The Elephant Pass Bridge, the gateway to northern district is under floodwater, sources in Jaffna said.

The Elephant Pass bridge is already in a dilapidated condition. As the bridge is now submerged in flood, bus and other transport services through A9 have been suspended until floods recede, civilian sources said.

Meanwhile rain continues in Batticaloa and Trincomalee districts. The Muttur division, south of Trincomalee town has been completely cut off from the mainland as the passenger boat service and road transport service have
been suspended as sea is rough and Allai Kantalai road is submerged in floodwater, according to Muttur divisional secretariat sources.

There is a severe shortage of essential foodstuff in the Muttur area due to the stoppage of vehicular movement, co-operative sources said.

In the meantime Minister Rauff Hakim Wednesday commenced three-day tour visiting flood-affected villages in the Ampara and Batticaloa districts
assessing damages. Sources close to Minister Hakim said he will be in Trincomalee Thursday to visit flood affected areas.